The Supreme Court on Monday stayed the trial proceedings in the Bilkis Yakub Rasool gang rape case till August 2, pending a decision on the victim's plea for transfer of the trial from Gujarat to Maharashtra.
Bilkis, whose family and relatives were killed by a mob in the post-Godhra riots in Gujarat, has said the atmosphere in the state is not conducive to a fair trial.
The Central Bureau of Investigation, which took up the investigations in the case on the apex court's directive, has supported Bilkis' plea for transferring the case to Maharashtra.
A bench comprising Justice Ruma Pal, Justice S B Sinha and Justice S H Kapadia granted the interim stay after Bilkis' counsel Harish Salve informed the court that a court in Ahmedabad is scheduled to frame charges against the 20 accused on July 29.